A Study on Yellow Color′s Symbolic Meaning in Oriental and Occidental Costume

동ㆍ서양의 복식에 나타난 노란색의 상징적 의미 연구

This survey paper examines general characteristics of "yellow" color, the oldest color in the history of art. Also the research aims to find meanings of the color and historical development embedded in clothing and textile both in orient and in occident where different philosophy and history developed. It is found here that the yellow symbolized both positive and negative meaning in the history of costume throughout the world. The color, however, was used to symbolize mostly positive meaning in the orient whereas not in the occident. "Yellow" color in orient used to symbolize the supremacy of the emperor, excellence and authority. The meaning of "yellow" color in the occident is two fold: from the positive viewpoint it represent god, king, wisdom, wealth and holy light, and from the negative viewpoint it represent image of betrayal and distrust, image of immorality, image of death and disease and image of jealousy and hatred. The concept of "yellow" was generalized in orient by the "Eum-Yang-O-Haeng Theory", while in occident by the Christianism. And the concepts came to hold concrete meanings and thereafter the symbol of yellow appeared.ings and thereafter the symbol of yellow appeared.